Department of Industrial Engineering

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Browsing Department of Industrial Engineering by Subject "Academic-industrial collaboration"

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    The Learning factory – a new stimulus to enhance international collaboration
    (Elsevier, 2019) Darun, M. R.; Palm, D.; Athinarayanan, R.; Hummel, V.; von Leipzig, K.
    The paper describes a new stimulus using learning factories and an academic research programme - an M.Sc. in Digital Industrial Management and Engineering (DIME) comprising a double degree - to enhance international collaboration between four partner universities. The programme will be structured in such a way as to maintain or improve the level of innovation at the learning factories of each partner. The partners agreed to use Learning Factory focus areas along with DIME learning modules to stimulate international collaboration. Furthermore, they identified several research areas within the framework of the DIME program to encourage horizontal and vertical collaboration. Vertical collaboration connects faculty expertise across the Learning Factory network to advance knowledge in one of the focus areas, while Horizontal collaboration connects knowledge and expertise across multiple focus areas. Together they offer a platform for students to develop disciplinary and cross-disciplinary applied research skills necessary for addressing the complex challenges faced by industry. Hence, the university partners have the opportunity to develop the learning factory capabilities in alignment with the smart manufacturing concept. The learning factory is thus an important pillar in this venture. While postgraduate students/researchers in the DIME program are the enablers to ensure the success of entire projects, the learning factory provides a learning environment which is entirely conducive to fostering these successful collaborations. Ultimately, the partners are focussed on utilising smart technologies in line with the digitalization of the production process.
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    A model design for an integrated monitoring-, management- and reporting approach for university research contracts
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-12) Malherbe, Cornelia; Schutte, CSL; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering. Engineering Management (MEM).
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As with the collaborative nature of universities, creating and fostering partnerships with other like minded institutions (whether it is universities, science councils or industry) is encouraged, valued and essential for survival and stature. Universities are experiencing the challenge of building on their research endeavours whilst facing ever-declining funding from the government. Therefore, it is unavoidable for universities to work more closely with industry and apply for funds from several funding sources to diversify their funding income streams. The governance framework for universities changed significantly from the 1960s when universities were mostly state-funded, where in this decade, universities are receiving a substantial percentage of their funds through research activities by collaborations with industry and other research institutions, as well as the trade or licencing of intellectual property – which are formalised through legal-binding research contracts. This PhD-study delves into the complexity of research contracts management approaches in a university context, taking cognisance of the international context's governance and compliance frameworks and the necessary risk management processes that support the governance structure and optimising the effectiveness of the university. It is also argued that there is far more to consider regarding the contract lifecycle as it is currently recognised. Therefore, one of the key contributions of this study is the enhanced contract lifecycle by including two additional phases: (a) the Post-contract execution phase, where the operational and institutional monitoring of contractual consequences (past the contract duration) are considered and (b) Unlocking strategic value phase. There are several challenges that universities face which can directly impact their ability to put the necessary best practices in place, to govern, comply and manage related risks without being overcontrolling and unintentionally limiting the research offering of a university. This study, therefore, leads to the Model design for an integrated monitoring-, management- and reporting approach for research contracts within an enhanced contract lifecycle. The research problem is that in the absence of an integrated monitoring-, management- and reporting approach for research contracts throughout the enhanced contract lifecycle in a university context, universities are severely exposed and vulnerable to significant risks from several sources, which could otherwise be pro-actively identified, managed and mitigated. Through a systematic literature review, interviews with researchers, industry, and universities (South African and international), and drawing on the author's experience in research contracts management, this mentioned Model is designed. This design is based on the 7-Step Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), supported by various other methodologies to determine the state-of-the-art research contracts management and, more importantly, improve the current state. As a final step, the Model is validated by conducting expert interviews with several South African and international universities and using Stellenbosch University (SU) as a case study. This study identifies several South African universities that are currently in survival mode. An additional step is taken to ensure that guidance is provided by identifying the Minimum State of the Art requirements for those universities that seek to improve systematically to become more competitive for research funding.